Independent Reviews

Independent review of the 2007 summer floods which caused severe disruption across England. Made 92 recommendations covering flood risk management, emergency response, and resilience infrastructure.

Review of the health of working-age people examining the economic and personal costs of sickness absence and worklessness, recommending an integrated occupational health service, fit for work assessments and employer incentives to retain sick workers.

Independent review of policing in England and Wales, commissioned by the Home Secretary. Published February 2008 with 33 recommendations to reduce bureaucracy, increase neighbourhood policing and improve efficiency.

Independent inquiry into the problems with the Modernising Medical Careers programme which caused widespread difficulties for junior doctors in 2007. Made 47 recommendations including creation of a new oversight body for postgraduate medical education and training.

Review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system, recommending a fundamental rethink about the way vulnerable women are treated throughout the criminal justice system.

Review of the UK's long-term skills needs examining the gap between current skill levels and those needed to remain competitive globally, recommending ambitious targets for adult skills, employer co-investment and a demand-led training system.

Independent review of land use planning commissioned by HM Treasury, examining planning barriers to economic growth and recommending reforms to the planning system.

Study examining the relationship between transport and UK economic productivity, recommending a prioritised approach to transport investment focused on urban areas, inter-urban corridors and international gateways to support economic growth.

Major review of the economics of climate change commissioned by the UK government, concluding that the benefits of strong early action on climate change outweigh the costs and recommending a global carbon price, technology support and energy efficiency action.

Independent review of legal aid procurement recommending a shift to competitive tendering and fixed fees. Proposed restructuring the market to achieve efficiency savings while maintaining access to justice.

Independent review of the future purpose and role of further education colleges in England, placing employability and skills as the sector's core purpose. Made 81 recommendations covering college mission, quality and self-regulation.

Review of regulatory inspections and enforcement examining how to reduce administrative burdens on business while maintaining effective regulation, recommending consolidation of regulators, risk-based inspection and a new enforcement code.

Independent review of housing supply commissioned by HM Treasury, examining why housing supply in the UK fails to respond to rising demand and setting out recommendations to increase housebuilding.

Independent review of the supply of scientists and engineers commissioned by HM Treasury. Made 37 recommendations covering school and university STEM education, teacher recruitment, and researcher pay and career development.

Independent review of long-term trends affecting the health service and the resources required to close the gap between current health service standards and those of the best performing countries, recommending increased NHS funding and reform of public health.

Independent review into the disturbances in Burnley, Oldham and Bradford in 2001. Coined the concept of parallel lives and made 67 recommendations for improving community cohesion.

Review commissioned by HM Treasury examining whether institutional investors were making effective decisions. Recommended 10 principles for best practice in pension fund investment decision-making.

Independent inquiry into inequalities in health commissioned by DHSC. Found widening health gaps between rich and poor and made 39 recommendations to tackle the social determinants of health.

Report of the Advisory Group on Citizenship recommending the introduction of citizenship education as a statutory National Curriculum subject in England for pupils aged 11-16.

First Caldicott review establishing principles for the handling of patient-identifiable information in the NHS. Introduced the concept of the Caldicott Guardian and six foundational principles for data flows.

Major independent inquiry into higher education in the UK, commissioned jointly by the government and opposition. Published July 1997 with 93 recommendations covering funding, quality, expansion and student support.

Comprehensive independent review of qualifications for 16-19 year olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Made 198 recommendations covering A levels, GNVQs, NVQs and a proposed overarching national qualifications framework.

First report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life establishing the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles) and recommending a Commissioner for Public Appointments, stronger rules on MPs outside interests and a Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.